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After death, Vt. activists demand Taser moratorium

Mental health and civil libertarians are calling for a moratorium on police use of stun guns in Vermont following the death of man last week.

MONTPELIER, Vt. -

Mental health advocates and civil libertarians are calling for a moratorium on police use of stun guns in Vermont following the death of man last week.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Mental Health Law Project at Vermont Legal Aid are among those calling for the moratorium.

They want it to last until the effects of the weapons can be investigated further and until police officers get more training in their use and in how to deal with people experiencing mental health crises.

Police say 39-year-old Macadam Mason of Thetford died after he was moving aggressively toward Senior Trooper David Shaffer and Shaffer hit him in the chest with the Taser.

Mason was shocked in the chest, which is contrary to the instructions that come with a Taser.

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